Sinkiang (1905) 2 mace Y-4
The province of Sinkiang, dominated by warlords and with little access to modern minting equipment, produced hundreds of varieties of coins from hand cut dies. Kashgar, Tihwa, and Aksu were the main mints. Most of its product was based on the tael standard (one tael = ten mace or ten miscals) rather than the dollar (one dollar = 7.2 mace) used in the rest of China. This specimen was lot 53357 in Stack's Bowers Hong Kong auction (Hong Kong, April 2021), where it sold for $9,900. The catalog description[1] noted, "CHINA. Sinkiang. 2 Mace (Miscals), ND (1910). PCGS AU-53 Gold Shield. Deeply toned and highly attractive, this minor presents uncommonly alluring quality and overall eye appeal. Compare to another original example, a PCGS AU-50, that realized a total of $11,700 [!] in our May 2020 Hong Kong auction (lot 42362)." This type is listed in the SCWC for 1905.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 7.2 g, silver.
Catalog reference: L&M-822; K-1020; KM-Y4; WS-1287.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Kann, Eduard. Illustrated Catalog of Chinese Coins, Vol. 1 of 3. Bronx, NY: Ishi Press International, 2006.
- Lin Gwo Ming, Illustrated Catalogue of Chinese Gold & Silver Coins: Ching and Republican Issues, Seventh Edition, Hong Kong: Ma Tak Wo Numismatic Co., Ltd., 2012.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The April 2021 Hong Kong Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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